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Thursday, November 17, 2011

It's all over the media in Malaysia today.... Shame on you Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU).
Shame on you..

MAAU treatment of golden quartet shameful

THE Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) needs a total revamp if we are to experience the glory days of athletics again.
Why are we in the doldrums? I would blame it on the sheer apathy of the MAAU. Because of infighting and personal differences among MAAU officials, Malaysian athletics is in the pits today.
I was shocked and saddened by the way our Sea Games gold medal 4x400m quartet were treated. They were flown in at the last minute to compete, and without their coach.
I am certain, MAAU officials thought the team would be “slaughtered”. However, the indomitable spirit of the lads and unwavering belief in themselves made them fight tooth-and-nail to emerge victorious.
But the unkindest cut was to follow. The boys were flown back the next day without experiencing their moment of joy – receiving their gold medals on the rostrum!
It’s downright shameful when hundreds of officials and VIPs are in Indonesia at the expense of the athletes from category B who are competing at their own expense.
Some of these officials should have been sent back instead of the relay boys.
If we are to see the likes of Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan, Istiaq Mubarak, Marina Chin, Datuk M. Rajamani, and many others who have illuminated Malaysian athletics in the past, I urge the powers that be to totally overhaul MAAU.SIVANATHAN PILLAI,Seremban..... The Star.

ATHLETICS: A bad state of the union

Athlete Noraseela Khalid, 32, blasted the union for the manner in which the men's 4x400m winning quartet was treated. The athletes were not on the rostrum to bask in their moment of glory for the medal-presentation ceremony. The quartet had to fly back because their tickets had been booked for the afternoon flight, and the union's attempts to reschedule their flight were futile.
This shows poor planning and disrespect for the athletes. It also shows that the union leadership is weak and has lost credibility, especially when its own athletes vent their frustration at the state of affairs of athletics in the country.
Malaysia was a powerhouse in athletics in the 1960s and 1970s. We enjoyed winning not fewer than 14 golds in the 1960s and 12 to 14 gold medals in the 1970s and early 1980s.

The Jakarta and Palembang SEA Games brought some cheer to the country when track and field athletes delivered six gold medals.
The men's 4x400 quartet of S. Kannathasan, P. Yuvaraaj, Schzuan Ahmad Rosely and Mohd Yunus Lasaleh, who had been dropped by the union but were included 48 hours before the race, brought cheer to Malaysia, too.
Coach K. Jayabalan's faith in the quartet's ability finally paid off.

In the 400m women's hurdles, Noraseela 32, won her pet event, her fourth gold medal in the SEA Games.
Veteran pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu, 29, also a fourth time SEA Games winner, captured the gold with a record height of 4.20m.
Credit should be given to the winning athletes. Prior to the games, the athletes faced so many challenges from the union.Threats were issued by senior union officials when athletes were unhappy for being sent to train in Ranau, Sabah, as the stadium and facilities were not ready; it could have been done at Bukit Jalil with minimum cost.
The union has been plagued by controversies. For instance, three of its athletes failed to give their urine sample but were still sent to Bulgaria for competition and training. As a result, it developed a strained working relationship with the National Sports Council and the National Sports Institute.
The union needs a change in leadership. There is no place for a clique system and a dictatorial leadership style, for this will impede development.

By C. Sathasivam, Seremban, Negri Sembilan
....NST.

ATHLETICS: Running into problems

The way the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) treated its athletes reached its nadir when the men's 4x400m runners proved their initial exclusion was a mistake when they won gold at the SEA Games.

Not having their coach along did not deter them, but the clincher was being denied the podium: they were carted off back home before the victory ceremony and NegaraKu was played.
This scandal can happen only with the union leadership.
Hurdler Noraseela Khalid's outburst after winning gold in the 400m hurdles is a manifestation of the stress the athletes have experienced.

It is time for the union leadership to leave. Its callous leadership, if you can call it that, of the union is the reason for this debacle; many are biding their time to leave.
I call on Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek to change the management of the union and ensure that athletes are taken care of, instead of officials who only have their own interest at heart.
This is the acid test of Shabery's leadership to prune the union, including its long-staying president.

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Simple man. Educationist, Writer, Keyboardist,Composer and Arranger, Qualified Track and Field Coach, Golfer and coach, occasionally give talks on motivation and mathematics.
Like to share facts and experience in the Teaching & Coaching profession.
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